Geisha

In Gion, we had the opportunity to see Geisha. After, a very exhausting day of walking from temple to temple, we took a break on a side-street of Gion. Shortly afterwards, we observed a pair of Geisha on their way to an ochaya (teahouse). This was a very exciting moment for Beth!




Even more exciting was a tea ceremony we attended in the oldest Geisha district. On our way to another shrine, our cab driver pointed out that a tea ceremony was being performed at the Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine. It turns out that this tea ceremony occurs once a year, Feb 25th.


Geisha preparing the tea at the Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine.



The tea ceremony dates back to the 15th century in Japan. The ritual (chaji) consists of a light meal and whipped powder tea (matcha) which is served by a host to a few invited guests. In Japan, the tea ceremony is a unique moment to be treasured.